Garage turn-table.



lW. T. SIMPSON.

GARAGE TURN TABL.l

A PPLIOATION rILnD Mme. 1910.

WILLIAM T. SIMPSON, OF JUNCTION'CITY, KANSAS.

GARAGE TURN-TABLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 23, 1911.

Application filed August 8, 1910. Serial No. 576,145.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM T. SIMPSON, citizen of the United States, residing at Junction City, in the county of Geary and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Garage Turn- Tables, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to turn-tables and partlcularly to a turn-table peculiarly adapted to garages or other like situations where it is necessary to turn automobiles or other like vehicles within a small space, t-he object of my invention being to provide a turn-table construction of a very simple, strong and effective form which may be easily manipulated and in which the turntable may be locked in any desired rotated position without strain upon the hinged connection of the latches.

Further objects are to improve the construction of turn-tables of this character to provide for antifrictional support of the table proper, provide for proper oiling of the antifrictional parts, and further to provide for very easy repairing of the several parts.

For a full understanding of the invention reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a diametrical section of my improved turn-table. Fig. 2 is an under side view of the rotatable platform thereof.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the supporting base, the platform of the turn-tab e being removed. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the lower pivot member. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the latch engaging the turn-table with the Hoor of the buildinoi to prevent rotation ofthe platform, and ig. 6 is a sectional view of the floor, platform and of the latch. Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the accompanying drawing by the same reference characters.

Referring to the drawing the numeral 2 designates a turn-table pit of any desired character, the pit being deep enough so that the turn-table is flush with the floor 3 of a building. The pit is circular or polygonal "in form, and formed within the pit is the ledge 4 which extends around the walls of plurality of radial ties 5 which are attached to the ledge 4 in any desired manner, these tics being preferably of wood. The ties are held in place from any inwardmovement by a circular strap 6 of metal or any other suitable material which is yspiked to the inner ends of the ties. The center of the pit is provided with the pier 7 of concrete brick or other like material, this pier being square in plan view and mounted upon this square pier is the wooden cap 8 having depending sides which fit over the upper end of the pier. This cap is thus held from any rotative movement upon the pier and yet may Y be readily removed or replaced.

Mounted upon the upper face of the cap 8 is the annular pivot member 9 which is provided with a plurality of radial lugs l0 at its base whereby the pivot member may be attached to the cap. Mounted between the lugs 10 and projecting radially out therefrom are the radial arms l1 which are bolted, spiked, or otherwise attached to the cap 8 and which at their ends project over the ledge 4 and are attached thereto, these projecting ends of the arms each forming one of the ties to which the rail is attached.

Fastened to the upper faces of the ties 5 is the rail 12 which is preferably flat on top and may be any shape in cross-section. This rail may be made in one piece or in section and may be of any suitable material. It is preferably spiked or otherwise attached to the ties 5.

Mounted within the annular pivot member 9 are a plurality of antifrictional rollers 13. As shown, the center of the annular pivot member is provided with a hub 14 having a plurality of sockets 15 formed in its sides. Opposite each of the sockets is an outer socket 15. The rollers 13 are provided with trunnions which rest in these sockets. As shown in the drawing there are three sockets formed in the hub 14 in three corresponding outer sockets, and hence three antifriction rollers.

The turn-table proper comprises a platform 16 which is circular and of a diameter corresponding to the interior diameter of the pit. The platform is supported by a plurality of main radial beams 17 connected at their ends by outer cross-braces 18 and braced at their middle by intermediate crossbraces 19. These intermediate cross-braces support radial braces 20 which extend to the middle portion of each of the outer braces 18. Supporting wheels 21 are provided which are mounted in yokes which are rigidly attached to the outer braces 18 to the point of junction of these braces with the radial braces 20. These radial braces it will be seen afford a support for the sides of the yoke and prevent the vyokes turning laterally, as they otherwise might do if they were mounted simply upon the braces 18 which are relatively narrow.

Attached to the beams 17 at the middle of the turn table is the annular pivot member 23 which is adapted to t over and down upon the pivot member 9, the anti-friction rollers 13 engaging with the lower face of the cap section 23 of the pivot members. The beams 17 are further connected to the member 23 by means of straps 24 which are bolted or otherwise attached to the beams, the out-er ends of the straps being deflected and bolted to the hub of the section 28. The section 23 is further provided with a central passage 25 which extends up and opens into a recess 26. This opening 25 affords means whereby oil may be applied to the anti-friction bearings in the sections 9 and 23. This opening is ordinarily closed by a plug 28 which fits within the recess 26 and closes the same and lies flush with the outer face of the turntable or platform proper. In order to hold the turn-table to any desired point of rotaF tion, the platform of the turn-table upon its upper face is provided with oppositely disposed inwardly extending slots 29, while the wall of the turn-table pit upon its upper face is provided with a plurality of correspondingly outwardly extending radial slots 30. The slot 29 at its inner end is extended as at 31. In other words the inner end of the slot is formed with a rearwardly and downwardly inclined or undercut wall. Hingedly mounted upon the upper face of the turn-table on the circumference thereof are the latches 32, each comprising a relatively thick body portion 88 and a relatively thin rib 84. This rib at its rear end is rearwardly and downwardly inclined as at 85 to engage beneath the undercut extremity 81 of the slot. The latch 32 is hinged or similarly attached to the turn-table by a U- shaped staple 36 which passes through the end of the vbody portion 33 and is driven into the turn-table 11. It will be seen that when the latches are turned into their horizontal position that they will'engage with the opposite slots on the floor of the building surrounding the turn-table, and that when they are in their horizontal position that the end 85 of the latch will extend into the undercut end 31 of the slot, and that thus any accidental displacement of the latch is resisted and its pivotal connection with the floor of the turntable strengthened. In other words the projectingend 35 engaging as it does with the undercut end of the slot acts to reinforce the hinge and take 0E strain from the hinge. Furthermore, as the rib 34 extends intovthe slot 29, any rotative strain will be taken o of the hinge which would be caused by a rotative impulse given to the platform of the turn-table by rolling a machine thereon. The turn-table platform is preferably made of planks corresponding to the planks forming the floor of the garage, although this is not absolutely necessary.

The operation of my invention will be ob- VlOuS.

The automobile or other vehicle is rolled upon the platform of the turn-table, the latches are then lifted, and by taking hold of the vehicle the platform of the turn-table may be rotated in any desired direction. Then it has been located definitely the latches have been depressed into the slots of the main fioor and the vehicle may be run off ofthe table.

It will be seen that my invention is very simple, solid and easily made, and may be kept easily repaired. It will also be seen that it is particularly convenient for garages and like buildings where only a small floor space can be used, as it permits the automobile to be turned within a very small compass.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new is 1. A turn-table for buildings including in combination with a pit anannular ledge within the pit, a: central pier, a removable cap mounted upon the central pier, radial arms extending from the ledge to the cap, ties mounted upon the ledge, a circular track on the ties, an antifriction bearing member supported upon t-he cap, and a turn-table platform having a central antifriction bearing member engaging with the first named bearing member and being also provided with a plurality of supporting wheels mounted on the circumference of the platform. Y

2. In a turn-table for buildings, the combination with a pit, of an annular wall forming a supporting ledge located in the pit, a central solid pier, square in cross-section, a removable cap tting over the pier and nonrotatable thereon, radiating ties mounted upon the upper face of the ledge, radial braces attached to the cap and extending to saidties, rear sections mounted upon the faces of the ties, an antifriction bearing member mounted upon the upper face of the cap and provided with antifriction elements, a rotatable platform, an antifriction bearing member mounted upon the center of the platform and extending below the same and engageable over the antifriction bearing member upon the cap, a plurality of supporting wheels mounted uponthe circumference of the platform, and adapted to be run upon the track carried on said ties, latches mounted upon the turn-table and adapted to engage with the floor of the building to hold the turn-table in any desired rotated posit-ion.

3. In a building, a floor, a turn-table mounted flush with Said floor adapted to rotate relative to said floor and being rovided with a plurality of radial slots, t e turntable on its margin being also provided with a plurality of radial slots, a latch hinged to the face of the turn-table and having a downwardly extending rib adapted to extend into the slot on the turn-table and into any one of the slots in the floor.

4. In a building having a floor, a turntable mounted flush with said ioor, the adj a cent margins of the turn-table and floor being provided with radial slots, the slots in the turn-table being provided with undercut ends of oppositely disposed latches on the turn-table, each comprising a body portion hinged to the floor and turn-table, said body portion being formed with a downwardly extending rib adapted to extend into the slot in the turn-table and the corresponding slot in the floor, the inner end of said rib being outwardly extended so as to engage beneath the undercutend of the slot.

5. A turn-table for buildings including in combination with a pit an annular ledge within the pit, a central pier, a removable cap mounted upon the central pier, a circular track supported on the ledge, an antifriction bearing member supported upon the cap and comprising an annulus provided with a central boss, and a plurality of sockets located on the inner face of the annulus, the central boss being also provided with sockets facing the sockets on the annulus, antifriction members having spindles disposed within said sockets, and a turntable platform having a central antifriction bearing member engaging with the first named bearing member and beino also provided With a plurality of supporting wheels mounted on the circumference of the platform and engaging with said track.

6. The combination with a turn-table, of a central pier on which the turn-table rotates, a removable cap fitting over the pier and non-rotatable thereon, an annular member removably mounted upon the upper face of the cap and having a central boss, the boss being provided with a plurality of vertically extending open ended sockets, the interior wall of the annular member being also provided with a plurality of vertically extending open ended sockets disposed opposite to the sockets in the boss, rotatable antifriction members supported in said sockets and projecting above the face of the annular member, and a downwardly extending bearing member mounted at the center of the turn-table and having an annular iange, said bearing member being supported upon the antifrietion members in the sockets, the annular flanges thereof extending down over said first named annular member.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM T. SIMPSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

